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Albanian Times, Vol. I, No. 10, December 17, 1995From: Albanian Times <AlbaTimes@aol.com>The Albanian Times (by AlbAmerica TRade & Consulting International) DirectoryIn this issue:CONTENTS[1] U-S to Supply Albania 25,000 Tons of Grain[2] World Bank Approves Agriculture Loan for Albania[3] In 1995 Albanian Exports Increased, Paper Says[4] Albanian Police Seize 40 Kilos of Heroin[5] Balkan Neighbors Strive for Better Telecommunications Links[6] Samsung Withdraws From Albania, Paper Says[7] Germany Offers Albania Support for Market Economy Efforts[8] Macedonian Parliament Discusses Tough 1996 Budget[1] U-S to Supply Albania 25,000 Tons of GrainThe United States will supply Albania 25 thousand tons of grain under the Food for Progress Act program started in 1991. The agrement was approved on Decem ber 22 by the Albanian government and was signed the same day by U-S ambassado r to Tirana Joseph Lake and the Albanian industry and transportation minister Suzana Panariti. The grant, worth $5 million, brings the U-S aid to Albania t o more than $93 million for the past 4 years.
[2] World Bank Approves Agriculture Loan for AlbaniaThe International Development Association of the World Bank approved a $6 million credit to enhance reforms in Albania's agricultural processing sector. The money will be distributed through an Agro-Processing Development Project, designed to support the reforms of the agriculture towards privatization, to encourage investments and introduction of modern management and technology. In addition to the credit, the government of the Netherlands will provide a $1 million grant for the project. The Albanian government will contribute $0,1 million. $2,1 million will be invested in technical support to entrepreneurs and farmers, the remaining $5 million will be provided through the Rural Commercial Bank in the form of long-term loans.
[3] In 1995 Albanian Exports Increased, Paper SaysAlbanian exports increased by 4 billion Leks during 1995, newspaper Republika reported on November 26. To the foreigners, Albania remains a largely unexplored mine, the paper says. Albania's raw materials are exported at very low prices and resold by foreign dealers at prices 4 times higher after being proces sed by them. About half of Albanian exports are unprocessed goods, with foods and cattle occupying a considerable percentage. The neighboring countries take advantage of Albania's lack of processing industries, and by selling their finished products into the country dictate on its market, the paper says. As a result, Albania's trade deficit in 1994 was 38,5 billion leks with a negative impact on investments. This year, imports into the country were mainly abso rbed by private businesses. Italy is a major trade partner with 45 % of all Albania's imports. Italian imports to Albania amount to about 30 billion leks yearly. Other important trade partners are Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonian and T urkey. The forecast for 1995 is that Albania's trade deficit will remain over 37 billion leks, Republika says.
[4] Albanian Police Seize 40 Kilos of HeroinAlbanian police seized more than 40 kilograms of heroin in the western port ci ty of Durres, Reuter reported on December 13. It is the largest haul ever in Albania. Two ethnic Albanian Macedonian citizens were arrested when trying to board a ferry for Ancona, Italy with their van. Apparently the drugs came fro m Turkey. Albania is used as a transit point for drug trafficking into Europe, but a considerable domestic market has not developed since the end of communism. Meanwhile, police in Italian cities of N apoli, Bari and Cosenza arrested 25 people involved in smuggling stolen cars i nto Albania, Koha Jone reported on December 14.
[5] Balkan Neighbors Strive for Better Telecommunications Lin ksBulgaria and Romania said on December 11 they would build optic lines between their capitals in an effort to provide fast communication links of good qualit y. The two countries signed a cooperation agreement on telecommunications dur ing a visit to Sofia by Romania's communications minister Adrian Turicu. Roma nia envisages allocating funds from its state budget for building the lines wh ile the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company, which does not receive subsidies , will rely on its own funds or attract foreign investors, Bulgarian officials said. Romania wants to be connected to a communications link-up between Sofi a and the Greek cities of Salonika and Athens, they added. Bucharest has a lso shown interest in another link from Istanbul via Sofia and Skopje in Macedonia to the Albanian port of Durres and the Italian port of Bari.
[6] Samsung Withdraws From Albania, Paper SaysThe Spanish based European headquarters of Samsung company canceled a contract with the radio and television factory URT in Durres, Koha Jone reported on December 10. The Albanian firm had produced for Samsung for three years. According to Samsung, misunderstandings with the Albanian partners, a rise of customs taxes and an increase of smuggling of pirated TV sets with Samsung-labels into Albania are the reasons for the withdrawal. URT Durres is now considering a privatization either by auction or into a share-holding company with vouchers.
[7] Germany Offers Albania Support for Market Economy Effort sGerman Chancellor Helmut Kohl offered visiting Albanian President Sali Berisha his support for Albania's efforts to build up a market economy and work towar ds an association agreement with the European Union, Reuter reported on Decemb er 19. Berisha told reporters Albania was making every effort to ensure it offered fo reign investors an attractive and secure legal framework, and said there was a lready substantial interest from some large German companies. German Developm ent Minister Carl-Dieter Spranger was due to sign a 60 million mark ($42 milli on) package of infrastructure aid for Albania.
[8] Macedonian Parliament Discusses Tough 1996 BudgetThe Macedonian parliament on 20 December began discussing the 1996 budget, which is based on 6% retail price inflation, 10% growth in social product, and 2% growth in industrial production, Nova Makedonija reported. Planned reve nues of 42.9 billion denars ($1.1 billion), represent 23% of social product, compared with 23.8% in 1995. Wages in the budgetary sphere will be frozen at t heir August 1995 levels, vacation pay eliminated, and social welfare spending and agricultural subsidies reduced. The largest revenue sources will be excise taxes, the personal income tax, and the sales tax. |
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